Ryne Sandberg could be among the candidates for the Rockies' managerial job. (AP Photo)

2. Who are the early candidates?

First, the answer to No. 1: Because there are only 30 major-league managerial jobs, it has to be considered appealing. However, given that the Rockies suffered a franchise-record 98 losses in 2012, this isn’t a quick-turnaround position, especially when you consider that an ongoing problem—pitching at Coors Field, especially starting pitching—continues to plague the team.

So, the Rockies are conducting their first managerial search since the team hired Buddy Bell to replace Jim Leyland, who resigned in 1999. Both Clint Hurdle, who replaced Bell in 2002, and Tracy, who took over for Hurdle in 2009, were elevated during the season.

According to The Denver Post, the early list includes in-house candidates, though it’s early to figure who would be in the running from outside the organization. Here is The Post’s early list, though the newspaper points out no official candidates have been identified:

Sandy Alomar Jr.: He played for the Rockies; his father, Sandy Sr., coached in the organization; and because the Cleveland Indians opted to hire Terry Francona for the manager’s job that Alomar had held on an interim basis, he’ll be available.

Ryne Sandberg: The Hall of Fame second baseman recently was elevated from the Phillies’ Class AAA manager to third-base coach with the big-league team. According to The Post, if he were to pursue a major-league manager’s job, the Phillies wouldn’t stand in the way.

Jason Giambi: Given the success recently of managers with no experience, such as the Cardinals’ Mike Matheny and the White Sox’s Robin Ventura, Giambi is a wild-card possibility. The Rockies veteran—respected by his teammates—wants to keep playing but would retire if he got a shot to manage, The Post reported. However, the newspaper notes, though his opinion is valued by the organization’s front office, it would not want him to take over without first being a coach.

Tom Runnells: Tracy’s bench coach, he managed the Montreal Expos in 1991-92 and has a long-standing relationship with Bill Geivett, the Rockies' director of major-league operations who has taken over from GM Dan O'Dowd most of the duties a general manager typically has, including having a big say in who gets hired as manager.

Stu Cole: The Class AAA Colorado Springs manager has advanced through the Rockies organization and has been praised privately by the front office for a few years, according to The Post.